Notre Dame Football: Alabama Proves Too Much For Irish In BCS Title Game (VIDEO/PHOTOS)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Manti Te'o stood perfectly still as he took a long look at one of the giant video screens in Sun Life Stadium, studying the replay of an Alabama touchdown.

It was a pose that Notre Dame repeated way, way too often in the BCS title game.

Te'o — the senior linebacker who was widely considered the nation's top defensive player this season — was a non-factor early in Monday's national championship, and that foreshadowed how the rest of the night went for the Fighting Irish. Overmatched from the opening possession, Notre Dame allowed season highs in points and yardage, simply unable to stop the Crimson Tide.

Final score: Alabama 42, Notre Dame 14.

And yes, it was that one-sided of a game, one that even had Irish coach Brian Kelly cracking a joke at his own expense in a televised halftime interview.

"All Alabama," Kelly said at the time. "I mean, we can't tackle them right now. And who knows why? They're big and physical — I guess I do know why."

Anyone who was watching knew why.

"Obviously we wish the night could have ended in a different way," Te'o said, "but the season, the year, my career here, I've been truly blessed to be at Notre Dame and I'll forever be proud to say that I'm a Notre Dame Fighting Irish, regardless of what happened tonight."

The lowlights were stacked high by the time this game was over. Te'o missed a couple of tackles early, something he hardly ever did this season. By halftime, when it was 28-0, the Irish had already given up more points than they had in any game this season, the previous high being 26 in a triple-overtime win over Pittsburgh. The most yards Notre Dame gave up this season was 379; Alabama cracked the 500 mark early in the fourth quarter.

Alabama finished with 529 yards, converted 8 of 13 third downs, got five touchdowns in five trips to the red zone and became the first team since Stanford in 2009 to score at least 42 points against the Irish.

"We just needed to execute better," safety Zeke Motta said. "It was just a matter of execution and playing the right way."

Maybe the play that will be most replayed of all was the one where Eddie Lacy essentially tackled Danny Spond.

The significance?

Well, Lacy was the Alabama ballcarrier at the time, holding the football with one arm and sending Spond — one of Notre Dame's top linebackers — sprawling with the other as he rumbled past for an extra yard or two.

"Pretty darn good football team, but not good enough," Kelly said, assessing his team as Alabama's crimson-and-white-confetti-filled victory celebration was wrapping up on the field. "So it's clear what we need to do in the offseason."

Bigger, stronger, faster. By night's end, it couldn't be argued that the Crimson Tide held all those titles.

It's why Alabama will fly home Tuesday with its third national title trophy from the last four seasons, no longer a budding dynasty — but an established one.

"It's a tough way to go out," tight end Tyler Eifert said. "We laid it all on the line, but at the end of the day, 'Bama was the better team."

Notre Dame arrived at the title game on the cusp of what would have been a fantasy scenario, that of being unranked at the start of the season and the undisputed champions at the end of the campaign.

After one play, it looked as if it might happen when Lacy was stopped after a 1-yard gain, wrapped up just over the line of scrimmage.

One play later, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron connected with Kevin Norwood for 29 yards, placing a pass between two Notre Dame defenders.

Such was the theme the rest of the night. Even when Notre Dame had its moments, they didn't last long. Lacy ran in from 20 yards to cap that first Alabama drive, the Tide stretched the lead to 21-0 after one play of the second quarter, and the outcome was never in doubt.

Some of the lower-bowl seats at Sun Life were being resold for as much as $10,000 in the days before the game. The majority of those seats were empty long before the finish, those fans for whatever reason deciding they didn't need to see yet another Alabama coronation.

Notre Dame didn't have the luxury those early departees did. The Irish had to watch until the bitter end, and Te'o — even though his college days are done — wants his team to remember what happened.

"The best thing about this experience is it creates fire, it creates fuel, for both the guys staying here and the guys leaving," Te'o said. "Everybody here tonight will be better because of it."

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PHOTOS: Alabama v. Notre Dame

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Davonte' Neal #19 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish fights for a loose ball after muffing the punt against Landon Collins #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Landon Collins #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Jeoffrey Pagan #8 celebrate after pinning the Notre Dame Fighting Irish deep in their own territory during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Everett Golson #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish sits undering center against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Davonte' Neal #19 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish fights for a loose ball after muffing the punt against Landon Collins #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Davonte' Neal #19 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish fights for a loose ball after muffing the punt against Landon Collins #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish watches from the sidelines against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Amari Cooper #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs with the ball against Theo Riddick #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

T.J. Yeldon #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a second quarter touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Everett Golson #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish throws a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Head coach Brian Kelly (C) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish argues a call with the line judge against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

T.J. Yeldon #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide scores a second quarter touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

T.J. Yeldon #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with teammate Kelly Johnson #31 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

T.J. Yeldon #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide scores a second quarter touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Everett Golson #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on after failing to convert on third down against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after a defensive stop against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Eddie Lacy #42 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs with the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

AJ McCarron #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after throwing a touchdown in the first quarter to Michael Williams #89 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Michael Williams #89 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with teammate Kelly Johnson #31 after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

AJ McCarron #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after throwing a touchdown in the first quarter to Michael Williams #89 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Michael Williams #89 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates his first quarter touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

AJ McCarron #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after throwing a touchdown in the first quarter to Michael Williams #89 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

AJ McCarron #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after throwing a touchdown in the first quarter to Michael Williams #89 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

TJ Jones #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gets tackled by Ty Reed #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Everett Golson #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish throws a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

AJ McCarron #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide passes makes an adjustment prior to a play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Alabama's Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix (6) intercepts a pass over Notre Dame's DaVaris Daniels (10) during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Alabama's Amari Cooper (9) celebrates his touchdown catch with quarterback AJ McCarron (10) during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Alabama's Dee Milliner (28) breaks up a pass intended for Notre Dame's DaVaris Daniels (10) during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron (10) congratulates Amari Cooper after Cooper's touchdown reception during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Alabama's Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix (6) is congratulated by teammate Adrian Hubbard after intercepting a pass during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert (80) catches a pass in front of Alabama's Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix (6) during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron celebrates during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson (5) runs past Alabama's Xzavier Dickson (47) and Trey DePriest (33) for a touchdown during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Alabama's AJ McCarron (10) and Barrett Jones argue during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Alabama's D.J. Pettway (57) celebrates with teammate Jeoffrey Pagan (8) after sacking Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson during the second half of the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is hugged by AJ McCarron, Barrett Jones and Cyrus Kouandjio after the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is hugged by AJ McCarron and Barrett Jones after the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban celebrates with Barrett Jones after the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Alabama defensive lineman Alphonse Taylor (50) holds up a newspaper after the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban shakes hands with Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly after the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban shakes hands with Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly after the BCS National Championship college football game Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Alabama 's Eddie Lacy (42) and Kevin Norwood (83) celebrate after the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is dunked with Gatorade in the final seconds of the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is dunked with Gatorade in the final seconds of the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban holds up the championship trophy after the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Alabama's AJ McCarron celebrates with Barrett Jones (75) in the final seconds of the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Alabama's Eddie Lacy holds up the championship trophy after the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban waves to fans after the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, in Miami. Alabama won 42-14. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)